"Now presenting His Majesty, the King, accompanied by Her Royal Highness, Princess of Serenity."

The doors flew open as the voice of a servant echoed through the room and they slowly stepped forward.

Her hand in his, she looked around the room at all the grim faces that eyed her as they made their way to the front of the assembly. The room was full of generals and council members, men who held a lot of power over their departments. It was up to Loraz to convince a room full of money-hungry, power-obsessed men because they should assist her with a full-blown war that did not concern them. While she had the full alliance of their king, there was still the matter of politics that had to be dealt with, as Robert was still fresh to the crown and there were still a few who covenanted the throne for themselves. She would leave for Ay Su soon after the meeting, but that meeting was just as important as the trip. If they could not be convinced to join her, she would be forced to seek an alliance elsewhere and recalculate her whole plan.

As they reached the front of the room Robert brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. Their eyes met and he smiled at her. Her cheeks flushed a bit and she returned his smile and nodded her head. Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly she turned to face the audience with her head held high and her eyes met each one of theirs. Her aura filled the room as she stood there commanding their full attention.

Robert sat on his throne and she cleared her throat. The whispers continued as they watched her standing there.

"Your attention is to be given here, gentlemen. The meeting has begun." Robert bellowed.

Loraz looked back at Robert then towards the men who stood waiting for her to speak. The silence that filled the room was unnerving. She could feel her hands become clammy as the eyes staring at her began to close in. The atmosphere held her by the throat as she searched for the words she wished to say. Then she reached for her neck and touched the necklace that Vestin gave to her when they reunited. Inhaling deeply she calmed her nerves and remembered all the people who stood behind her in support.

"Today I stand before you, not as the princess of Mossa as all of you know me to be, but as the true heir and rightful Queen of Serenity. My people have suffered for far too long. While I grew up in hiding, living a life that has been saved so many times by some of the bravest of people I have ever met, they have been praying for salvation. They are left to die on the outskirts of the kingdom. Many have their children taken from them to fuel the army or to be sold off to foreign nations like livestock. They have cried and prayed to the Ancestors to have this shadow removed from over them. This everlasting curse never seems to let them rest. The Ancestors have heard their cries by bringing me to my senses. It was once believed that the Royal Family was the cause of this tragedy, but they are also in danger. I know the darkness that torments my people is the same one who is holding the rest of the Royal Family hostage. His manipulation and abuse of power are considered treason against the kingdom he has promised to serve and stay loyal to. With each passing day, his allies grow stronger and his army grows in numbers. If he succeeds his hunger for power will grow tremendously and no one will be safe. I ask you, the brave warriors and counsel of Mossca for your aid in helping me bring my people salvation and end this man tyranny before things get worse."

A hand raised and a man stepped forward. It was Robert's eldest brother, he smiled at Loraz and then looked around the room,

"This young princess comes to our door and tricks us into thinking she is one of our own. Blinds both my father and younger brother by putting them under some sort of enchantment and now she dares step in front of this court begging for help with a matter that has nothing to do with us. How does this civil quarrel have anything to do with Mossca? What benefit do our people receive from plunging ourselves into war? Why should we give our blood for your gain?"

His voice echoed as the last word rolled off his tongue. He looked over at Robert as the men all spoke in whispers and eyed Loraz. The smile on his face was bigger than a child on Saints Day at the annual festival.

Robert sat quietly on his throne. He knew that his brother was trying to get a reaction out of him and he would not take the bait. Unfortunately, for his brother, Robert could control his anger and frustration far better than the others of the royal family. He would handle his brother's disrespectful behavior accordingly at a later time. At that moment it was important for the focus to stay on the topic at hand.

Loraz stood quiet for a while. She looked at Robert's brother and nodded her head. Her hand went up and the room went quiet. The atmosphere around her slowly changed as she stared a hole into the man's face. Her eyes narrowed slightly and she then broke her gaze and looked at the other men.

"What I ask of you is not an easy feat, gentlemen. Yes, I am inexperienced when it comes to the battlefield. My hands do not know all the proper ways to handle a sword," She stepped forward and looked Robert's brother square in the eyes, "You are right to question my plea for help. What will the benefits of you joining my war would be? Why should such an amazing kingdom such as Mossca bother with a kingdom that is facing a drastic decline? I will answer this for you...resources."

Robert's brother scoffed at her and waved his hand at her rebuttal,

"Resources...what could your people offer that we don't already have?"

Loraz looked at him with a smirk on the corner of her lips. Her kingdom may be doing poorly when it came to the misuse of power and the government of her people, but they still held one thing that all the other kingdoms envied and wished to have themselves,

"You seem to forget that Serenity sits close to the sea. It has not only the best seaport in all of Zanooma but a naval unit that surpasses any army. The port in the castle city alone controls more of the sea trade than its competitors. We are stationed in an area that many people for years have tried to conquer. Yet none, but my ancestors were able to successfully bring forth a kingdom alongside that part of the sea."

His brother's eyes narrowed at Loraz as she spoke. For years he tried to figure a way to gain control of the sea trade in that area. He bit at the inner part of his bottom lip,

"And you would hand this over to us if we helped you with your problem? Why do I find this hard to believe? You would give up your strongest defense and the livelihood of your kingdom just to be rid of some cad who has gone mad with power?"

Ignoring Robert's brother, Loraz continued to speak to the other men in the room.

"Gentlemen, I am here seeking your years of experience and wisdom. What I offer is an alliance. One that will be beneficial to us all. I am well aware that your financial status is nothing but a facade. The people of the outer villages and towns have already begun to see hardship and will soon have no choice but to move elsewhere. The ones that stay will no doubt die of hunger, but before most of them do, you, yourselves, will be faced with the dangers of riots and random acts of violence. All in the name of justice."

His brother once again spoke up against her,

"Where does this information come from? Our kingdom is not on the verge of disaster. We will see to it that all is well within our lands."

"You mean you will make sure that you keep the castle city safe? No doubt the many towns and villages that depend on your protection will suffer."

Another gentleman stepped forward his hand raised and uttered,

"While your claim to Serenity may be true, you just mentioned that this threat has the power of Serenity's military. How are we to go up against such an enemy if he wields the power of all your forces?"

Another came forward and said,

"I also still fail to see what this has to do with Mossca? Or do you wish to play us all for fools by making promises you will neglect to keep once you've regained your throne?"

Loraz put up her hands as the group of men started going back and forth about the pros and cons to help her. She smiled at them and scanned their faces. She remembered seeing most of them as a young girl. Many of them had grown fond of her over the years, yet at that moment she found herself wondering if that favor was only because they wanted to be in King Fredrick's good graces.

An elder of the council stepped forward and looked at the princess. He gave her a bow of his head then turned towards the assembly.

"Gentlemen, let us not have us go back and forth verbally debating the outcome of two grand kingdoms, we shall gather the details we need to make our decision," he turned and faced Loraz, "Young princess, you speak of matters that you should not be well versed in. The welfare of Mossca relies on the people believing all is well. If we were to send our troops off to war what will that say to the people?"

Loraz pressed her lips together then sighed,

"I understand why you all would be so hesitant to assist me with something such as this. Before you stands a small princess who was cast out of her kingdom before she could even walk. You must think of what is best for Mossca before all else. Grand Advisor, you have watched me grow as a child, I ask you this, have I ever given you a reason to distrust me?"

"No. A very honest person. A quality that has been almost forgotten in these modern times," He looked back at the men behind him, "I have been watching over this child since His Majesty, King Fendrick brought her into this court. If what she proposed is her offer then she will come through with it. Our people are slowly starting to notice our decline, the outskirts with the farmer villages have been planning to riot in the coming months, even though we are trying to find a way to gather supplies for them and help with the issue of the wild min-mins that destroy the crops. If by chance she can be of assistance then all the more reason to agree to her proposal."

"My offer is this, with your cooperation, gentlemen, we can bring forth a merger of power that no army will dare to rival ever again. We will have the resources to defend all of our lands and protect all of our people. If you agree to help me, we will march forward and free my people from their tyrant and reclaim my birthright. Then upon that day a union will be formed between our kingdoms. This tyrant will not stop with just Serenity his greed will increase and the next target could be Mossca. I don't want any more people to suffer at his hands. Know that while I fight for my people I also fight for the people of Mossca. You welcomed me when I was a child as your princess, I ask you now gentlemen will you welcome me again, as your queen?"

Robert looked at Loraz as she stood there. Moments ago she spoke of taking a break and now she announced that she would become his queen. He looked around the room and waited to see what happened.

The men all looked at each other and muttered to themselves. Suddenly a man stood up and walked in front of her. He dropped to one knee and pulled his blade from his pocket. Digging the tip of the blade into his palm. He looked up to her and nodded his head. She held out her hand and he let a drop of his blood fall into it then said,

"With this drop, you hold my life and I will serve as your vessel. I speak these words in favor of your union with the king and the merger of our kingdoms. From here on you shall be my queen."

She took a moment to let the words echo throughout the room.

"I accept your pledge."

One by one the men stood before her and gave her the pledge. She stood and accepted each person that gave her their blessing. Robert's brother was left standing alone on one side of the room. He would rather choke on his tongue than pledge himself to a child. Robert stood up then made his way to her side and took the hand that was coated in blood. Pressing his hand into hers he kissed her forehead and then turned to the men.

The Grand Advisor stepped forward and tied a white cloth over their hands and said,

"With this, you will become our queen upon our victory."

Loraz nodded her head at the advisor, then looked out towards the room full of men and replied,

"Until then, may you all guide me."

Roberts brother narrowed his eyes at Loraz then sl